CEO choice offered contract

Brian Herwig offered contract to become new CEO of Estes Park Medical Center

By David Persons

Trail-Gazette

Posted:
10/04/2013 09:00:11 AM MDT

Brian Herwig

The Park Hospital District Board of Directors voted late Tuesday in a special meeting to offer a contract to Brian Herwig to become the Estes Park Medical Center's new chief executive officer.

The amount and the length of the contract were not available.

Herwig is currently the chief operating officer at Providence Medford Medical Center in Medford, OR. Board members say they are hopeful Herwig will sign the contract quickly and be on the job by Oct. 21.

Herwig, if he accepts the contract, will replace former CEO Robb Austin who resigned in January. Bobbi Swenson has been the medical center's interim CEO while the search took place.

While the search to find a new CEO has taken most of the year, board members left no doubt that Herwig is the right person to lead the center.

"Through the interview process he made the strongest, positive impact on our physicians, staff and members of the board," said board president Robert Gordon.

Gordon added that the board used the same search process that the town used to find Frank Lancaster as its new town administrator and believes that Herwig will have the same impact that Lancaster has had.

Other board members echoed Gordon's feelings.

"The board went through a pretty lengthy interview process," said board member Diane Van Der Ploeg, who was on the search team. "We had a pretty good sense of what he (Herwig) was about. We had a pretty good picture of him.

"He's a very interesting person. Wherever he's been, he's overseen a different part of a hospital. He has seen how all of the areas work.

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"He's also very globally experienced. I think the vision he possesses will really help us grow and get us through the challenges of healthcare (reform) about to come."

Herwig has extensive knowledge in a large hospital system with a fully integrated non-profit care delivery system across five states, according to information supplied by EPMC officials. Herwig obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin and a Masters of Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University. In addition he is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Herwig's experience includes 12 years in the Promedics Health Care System - Bixby Medical Center, Herrick Memorial Hospital, Thorn Hospital, and Morenci Area Hospital in Adrian, MI serving as Site Administrator and Vice President of Support Services, Program and Ambulatory Services, and Director of Material Services.

Herwig's most current position was Chief Operating Officer at Providence Medford Medical Center in Medford, OR. .Providence Medford Medical Center is a 168 bed-acute care hospital. Herwig was very active in community and professional organizations in Medford and the surrounding areas.

Van Der Ploeg also had kind words for interim CEO Bobbi Swenson who led the medical center during the search and through the recent flash flood event.

"We really appreciate all that she's done," Van Der Ploeg said. "I know that she never thought she would face the things she has but she had done an outstanding job."

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